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The 21st century climate crisis has been compounded by the COVID-19 health crisis and the Russian war. What at first appeared to be an opportunity to move towards sustainable growth and development has turned into the opposite. In this context, it seems necessary to pause and analyze what countries are doing and where they are heading in order to ensure that their environmental efforts are not in vain. This article analyzes the environmental policies of the seven countries emitting the most GHGs from 1990 to the present day and compares them with the reality of their emissions. These behaviors are extrapolated into the future and, finally, conclusions are drawn as to which countries are not fully living up to their commitments, which have implemented the most effective measures, and where particular attention needs to be directed for maximum efficiency in decarbonizing the energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is currently the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, reflecting the country's energy sector and its dependence on fossil fuels. However, the model of economic growth supported by polluting energy is no longer sustainable, which leads to pressure for changes in favor of greener energy, in a way to meet the interests of the country's new development strategy, in addition to ensuring energy security. In face of this framework, this article analyzes the ongoing process of decarbonization of the Chinese energy mix, concluding that efforts for energy transition in the country already reflect advances in renewable energy sectors, and converge with the goals of modernizing the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to quantitatively describe the anticipated change in the energy mix of the Sultanate of Oman (Oman) as the country moves forward in its national plan for green hydrogen, in order to become a global producer and exporter. This aim is achieved by curating recent data about energy projects in Oman that are either operating or planned (in a construction or pre-construction stage). Then, these data are processed further to extract useful insights about how the energy mix would change if the planned projects are realized and added to the operating ones. This reveals the serious commitment of the country to accomplish its national plan for green hydrogen (GH), where the green hydrogen production ambition for 2030 is about 1.125 million tons per annum (Mtpa), using a renewable energy capacity of approximately 18 GW. This ambition increases to about 3.5 Mtpa with approximately 70 GW of renewables in 2040, and increases further to about 8 Mtpa with approximately 180 GW of renewables in 2050. As a portrait of Oman's energy mix with the assumption of successfully completing all planned energy projects, we found that the country is expected to have a total capacity of 83.1271 GW, with the share of renewables (solar and wind) reaching 83.133% (as compared to 15.0711 GW with an 8.907% renewables share for operating projects). Nearly all (precisely 99.571%) of the 68.0560 GW planned national energy capacity additions are based on solar or wind energy, while the traditional oil–gas energy is gradually phased out. Green hydrogen production dominates this surge in renewables penetration within the Omani energy mix, with 84.659% of the planned 34.3140 GW solar capacity additions linked with green hydrogen production, for operating water electrolyzers. Similarly, 98.804% of the planned 33.4500 GW wind capacity additions are linked with green hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar Power Plants are a form of renewable energy that harness sunlight to generate electricity through solar panels. This research designs a PLTS system for use at the Labuan Steam Power Plant (PLTU) of PT. PLN (Persero), aimed at reducing the plant's own electricity consumption. This study evaluates the design and installation of a PLTS system on a 7200 m² area at the Labuan PLTU and conducts a technical and economic comparison between On-Grid and Off-Grid PLTS systems. The research methods include field surveys, shading potential measurements, and design simulations using PVSyst software. The results show that the On-Grid PLTS installation at the Labuan PLTU Administration Building is technically and economically feasible, with a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.20 and a Payback Period (PP) of 16.93 years. The implementation of this PLTS system has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 84,187 tons of CO2e per year, supporting PT. PLN's program to achieve the 23% renewable energy mix target by 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the renewables potential in the energy mix of Algeria with a special insight to bioenergy and food security. In recent years, and at global scale, bioenergy was seen as the leading renewable energy source. That contribution was particularly consistent with long term climate targets. The 2015 updated version of the Algeria Renewable Energy Development Program foresees the introduction of biomass sector with a contribution of 1000 MW by 2030. This represents barely 5% of the country’s renewable energy targets which amount to 22 000 MW, 93.5% of which are planned for solar and wind. In 2020, this objective has been reduced to 15,000 MW and the deadline extended to 2035. To date, despite the growing perception of a real desire to encourage clean energy projects, the renewable energy installed capacity is less than 500 MW without any contribution from the biomass sector. However, whatever the goals or the achievements, the need for renewable deployment is crucial for strategic purposes such as energy, water desalination and food security. The relationship between food security, sustainable development, and renewable energy is well demonstrated. Ensuring food security is closely linked with energy, hence with renewable energy sources in the middle and long term, including biomass valorization. This paper presents a comprehensive outlook of the bioenergy sector, highlighting the barriers which stand in the path of biomass recovery and use. Today, it appears clearly that a significant increase in renewable energy can only be achieved by higher solar power production.

In the field of economic analysis, the study of the EU ETS policy has primarily focused on the impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth, as well as the role of legal and fiscal instruments in the development of clean energy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EU ETS policy in altering the energy mix of selected European countries, providing both cognitive and applicational value. The evaluation of the effectiveness of this policy focused on the structure of the energy mix and the relationship between rising CO2 emission allowance prices and the decreasing share of coal in the energy mix. The goal was achieved through statistical analysis of secondary sources, primarily sourced from Bloomberg (2016–2024). The research findings indicated that changes in the structure of energy sources varied across the studied European countries, due to the adopted energy source utilization strategy, resource availability, and geopolitical situations. Additionally, different correlation values were noted between rising CO2 emission allowance prices and the expected reduction in fossil fuel use. Therefore, the EU ETS policy does not fulfill its assigned role—its implementation contributes to disparities in the economic situations of European economies and creates conditions for unequal competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares different powertrains of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with respect to ambient temperature and energy mix in Slovakia using the well-to-wheel (WTW) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. Battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and petrol and diesel vehicles were assessed and compared. The WTW study was conducted in SimaPro software assessing electricity/petrol/diesel production, transport, and use (energy conversion in the vehicle), with impact categories being climate change, particulates, NOx emissions, ionizing radiation, and fossil resource scarcity depending on the season (summer and winter). The results indicate that for Slovak conditions, BEV generally had the lowest environmental impact in both seasons studied. The only exceptions were ionizing radiation, which is clearly caused by the high share of nuclear power in the Slovak energy mix, and NOx emissions, which are caused by the combustion of biomass for electricity generation. The other impact categories were dominated by vehicles with an internal combustion engine. The results of emissions from fuel production are also given for each impact category. The transportation of fuel did not exceed the value of 1% for any impact category or for any powertrain. The conclusions of the study support the global trend in favour of vehicle electrification as an important way to reduce the negative environmental impacts of internal combustion engine vehicles in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Integrated Intelligent Energy is the property of Editorial Department of Integrated Intelligent Energy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Renewable energy has emerged as a promising solution to address the challenges of climate change, energy security, and socio-economic development. South Africa, with its abundant renewable energy resources, has made significant strides in the utilization of renewable energy over the past decade. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the progress of renewable energy advancement in South Africa, examining the policies, initiatives, and achievements in various renewable energy sectors. This study explores the country's transition from a heavily coal-dependent energy system to a diversified and sustainable energy mix. It analyses the growth of renewable energy technologies, such as wind power and solar photovoltaic (PV), highlighting the key milestones, challenges, and opportunities. Furthermore, this paper discusses the role of government support, regulatory frameworks, and private sector investments in driving renewable energy deployment in South Africa. Finally, it identifies the prospects and potential areas for further advancement in the renewable energy sector. This review aims to contribute to the understanding of South Africa's renewable energy journey and provides valuable insights for policy-makers, researchers, and stakeholders involved in the sustainable energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the time series data of the United Kingdom (UK) from 1965 to 2021 for energy usage, total reserves, manufacturing, gross domestic product, and total carbon dioxide emission using auto regressive distribution lag (ARDL) model. Energy usage, manufacturing and GDP were found to have GDP positive relation with carbon dioxide emission both in the short run and long run. The need of the UK government to promote policies for energy mix is emphasized.

The group of nations which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) need to address rising energy demand, reduce carbon emissions, and sustain economic growth, necessitating a strategy that integrates environmental sustainability with economic development. The current study delves into the profound impact of energy mix, financial development, digitalization, and national income on carbon emissions in BRICS countries. The study uses a nonlinear panel quantile regression model utilizing panel data spanning from 2000 to 2023, by estimating the asymmetric impact of energy mix, financial development, and digitalization on carbon emissions of BRICS countries. The estimates assert that a higher energy mix ratio, favoring renewable sources for energy generation, serves as a potent catalyst in mitigating carbon emissions. Moreover, the study highlights the pivotal role of financial development in curbing carbon emissions by fostering investment in green energy and encouraging sustainable energy consumption. Furthermore, the study underscores the transformative effect of digitalization in BRICS countries, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions. This exemplifies how BRICS countries have strategically leveraged financial development and digitalization to significantly reduce carbon emissions. However, the study also prompts policymakers to address the challenges posed by increased energy consumption from non-renewable sources amid developmental activities. By providing fresh evidence on the impact of the energy mix, financial development, and digitalization on carbon emissions, this study augments the existing literature and underscores the imperative for concerted action in addressing environmental concerns.

ABSTRACT China is currently the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, reflecting the country’s energy sector and its dependence on fossil fuels. However, the model of economic growth supported by polluting energy is no longer sustainable, which leads to pressure for changes in favor of greener energy, in a way to meet the interests of the country’s new development strategy, in addition to ensuring energy security. In face of this framework, this article analyzes the ongoing process of decarbonization of the Chinese energy mix, concluding that efforts for energy transition in the country already reflect advances in renewable energy sectors, and converge with the goals of modernizing the economy.

Improving the environmental efficiency performance of energy mix is important to the global carbon neutrality goal. Given this motivation, this study delves into providing more explanation about the role of innovation approaches to coal, oil, and natural gas energy resources in the Nordic economies i.e., Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden during the period 2000–2019. To achieve this objective and reach an evidence-based insight for policy formulation, the present study leveraged robust panel econometrics estimators that circumvent cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity issues in the investigated blocs. The empirical evidence shows that economic growth (GDP), coal energy, oil and natural gas contribute to the Nordic economies' environmental degradation in the short- and long-run. Contrarily, innovation via environmental-related patents mitigates environmental degradation, especially in the long run. Furthermore, the interaction models, i.e., applying innovative approaches in the energy mix's consumption, can mitigate carbon emissions across the countries, thus significantly improving environmental sustainability. Specifically, innovative approaches in coal, oil, and natural gas consumption improve environmental sustainability by mitigating carbon emissions, thus delivering respective environmental efficiency improvements of ∼94%, ∼108%, and ∼123%. Additionally, Granger causality evidence further suggests that the examined factors are significant drivers of the environmental indicator. Regarding policy insight, this study affirms that further improvement in energy savings is vital to continuously deploying the conventional energy mix.

This study considers an application of the first-order Grey Markov Model to foresee the values of Italian power generation in relation to the available energy sources. The model is used to fit data from the Italian energy system from 2000 to 2022. The integration of Markovian error introduces a random element to the model, which is able now to capture inherent uncertainties and misalignments between the Grey Model predictions and the real data. This application provides valuable insights for strategic planning in the energy sector and future developments. The results show good accuracy of the predictions, which could provide powerful information for the effective implementation of energy policies concerning the evolution of energy demand in the country. Results show an improvement in the performance of more than 50% in terms of Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) when the Markov chain is integrated in the analysis. Despite advancements, Italy's 2032 energy mix will still significantly rely on fossil fuels, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts beyond 2032 to enhance sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is analyzed that the social evolutions for the energy transition where the energy mix is utilized for the non-carbon emission energy development reducing the fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The behavior of a society is analogized to the mutation-based evolutions of life. The simulations are performed by the software for the quantifications. The values increase gradually in ENERGY MIX and CLIMATE CHANGE which reflects the causes-results incorporated with global warming. There are oscillations in ENERGY MIX that show the mitigations of climate disasters. The slope increases rapidly after the 20th year, which means that the impact of climate change will show later. That is, RESILIENCE is related to CLIMATE CHANGE as the impact of RESILIENCE shows a rapid increase in the early period. However, in a later period, the slope of RESILIENCE is lower due to the impact of the CLIMATE CHANGE being higher. It is analyzed for climate disasters with pandemic situations where social resilience is investigated by the mutation-evolution-based game algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy is essential for the European Union. The targets presented by the Green Pact are closely related to the development of renewable energy, and it has a vital role in achieving climate neutrality in the EU. Solar energy's importance has increased in the past years. It can help achieve the goals presented in the EU and contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas with unrealized potential. The aim of the study is to outline the dynamics and tendencies in solar energy development in the EU and Bulgarian energy mix and highlight perspectives in the context of rural areas. The results show challenges related to green transition in Bulgaria. Renewable energy, especially solar and wind, has increased in its role in the last few years. However, it should be noted that the country's development began from a lower starting point. Bulgaria is dependent on fossil fuels, and more than 80% of electricity is produced from coal, which is one of the substantial sources of pollution. However, some positive tendencies and possibilities exist for boosting rural economies and employment creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares the equivalent emissions from battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with those of internal combustion engines vehicles (ICEVs) and hybrid vehicles (HV). The considerations focused on the dependence of the equivalent emission from electric cars on the official/national Polish energy mix (which is still mainly based on hard coal). The results of mathematical simulations of the impact of the fuel type on pollutants' emissions are presented. The article also focuses on the effects of the fuel used in internal combustion engines vehicles (LPG, CNG, petrol, diesel, hydrogen) and the official/national Polish energy mix for battery electric vehicles on carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natural Gas Industry is the property of Natural Gas Industry Journal Agency and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Energy security is getting louder globally as there are growing concerns about the risk of climate change from using traditional non-renewable energy sources. This systematic literature review is conducted to identify the current state of renewable energy technologies in Nepal supporting the energy sustainability issue, opportunities, and challenges. The peer-reviewed journal articles published in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched with specified search strings. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis(PRISMA) framework was utilized to search and screen the relevant literature published from 2012 to 2023 related to renewable energy development in Nepal. The Biblioshiny () function of the R-tool was utilized to conduct the meta-analysis of the identified literature. The result shows that the majority of articles were produced after 2019 and among them 50% of the research were conducted on mixed renewables, 19.4% on hydro, 14.5% solar, 8.1% wind, and 8.1% bio-energy. Renewable energy, climate change, sustainability, and policy interventions were identified as major themes in the research. Biomass (66.4%) still dominates the total energy mix and hydropower dominates in electricity generation. This review has explored how the studies were conducted on energy sustainability and renewable energy technologies in the context of Nepal. The review also provides challenges faced by Nepal’s renewable energy sectoral development and the underlined opportunities towards energy sustainability.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the energy intensity of production in the Polish agri-food (agribusiness) sector, split into agriculture, food industry and supply subsectors, in the light of input-output tables. The study relies on input-output tables and physical energy flow accounts. Energy plays a key role in today’s society as it affects economic growth and the standards of living, while also being at the core of international conflicts, mainly caused by its limited resources. Compared to other sectors, agribusiness demonstrates particularly high levels of energy consumption. Agriculture, which is part of it, has a large share in the consumption of fuels derived from crude oil. This paper presents the consumption of energy in each of the four aggregates of agribusiness, as well as their GDP (in PPS) and energy consumption mix (split into 6groups of energy carriers). The authors found that between2014 and2019, energy consumption in the agribusiness industry increased by ca.9% and was accompanied by ca.8% growth in GDP. The sector’s energy intensity was half more than the average level for the economy as a whole, and remained at ca.5.6TJ per EUR1million of GDP in PPS. Only the food industry was at a level of energy efficiency similar to that of the economy as a whole, whereas the agricultural supply subsector was the only one to demonstrate lower levels. Both the economy as a whole and the agribusiness sector clearly tend to reduce the share of coal and related products in the energy mix.

To achieve the clean energy target set by various countries and states for 2030, it is crucial to assess Carbon Emission Flow (CEF) accurately across the entire energy supply chain. This paper introduces an innovative approach employing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to calculate both direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) CEF, encompassing power generation, transmission, and end-user consumption of radial and loop networks. While direct emissions from connected generators can be measured using power generation data, heat rates, and fuel types, indirect emissions from imported/exported power require AI algorithms analyzing historical and real-time data. CEF for a customer or any entity is the amount of CO2 generated from power sources for that customer or entity. Our methodology computes the total (both direct and indirect) and locational marginal emission (LME) for diverse energy mixes at each node and load in the power network. This approach provides precise location specific CEF data, allowing identification of nodes with varying carbon intensity. By understanding the emissions landscape, policymakers can develop targeted strategies, facilitating the reduction of carbon emissions and guiding future taxation policies. This innovative AI-driven framework enhances our ability to transition towards a sustainable energy future while meeting clean energy goals.

The 21st century climate crisis has been compounded by the COVID-19 health crisis and the Russian war. What at first appeared to be an opportunity to move towards sustainable growth and development has turned into the opposite. In this context, it seems necessary to pause and analyze what countries are doing and where they are heading in order to ensure that their environmental efforts are not in vain. This article analyzes the environmental policies of the seven countries emitting the most GHGs from 1990 to the present day and compares them with the reality of their emissions. These behaviors are extrapolated into the future and, finally, conclusions are drawn as to which countries are not fully living up to their commitments, which have implemented the most effective measures, and where particular attention needs to be directed for maximum efficiency in decarbonizing the energy mix.

Motivated by the study country’s active involvement in the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions and the positive strides it has made domestically in increasing renewable energy in its energy mix, on the one hand, and the need to find out whether renewable energy consumption can also assist in reviving the economy, on the other hand, this study empirically examines the dynamic impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth in Zimbabwe. Using annual time-series data from 1990 to 2019, and the autoregressive distributed lag approach, the results of the study show that in Zimbabwe, renewable energy consumption has a positive impact on economic growth, both in the short and long run. Increasing the usage of renewable energy increases the growth of the economy in the country of study. These results imply that Zimbabwe can achieve two goals using one strategy – increasing renewable energy consumption to decrease the negative impact climate change and greenhouse gas emission have on the environment and the economy, and increasing economic growth. Policy makers in Zimbabwe are, therefore, recommended to support increased use of renewable energy over alternative energy sources, as this would have positive implications on the economy, both in the short and long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical power generation in Oman depends mainly on natural gas, while in rural areas it is based mainly on diesel fuel. Oman has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The objective of this paper is to propose an optimal energy mix model for electricity generation from various energy sources, such as gas, diesel, wind, and photovoltaic, that considers more renewable sources in the energy mix. The optimization model minimizes various costs such as construction cost, operation cost, fuel cost, and carbon emissions, while satisfying the load demand. In this paper, Masirah Island is selected to perform our analysis. Several scenarios are contemplated, including grid extension to the island. The results found that gas-powered generators with 20% PV and storage are the best option in terms of the levelized cost of electricity. The grid extension is an economically feasible option if the existing load is more than doubled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan's recent enunciation of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" policy aims to promote principles such as free trade, freedom of navigation, and encouraging economic prosperity with building commitment to stability and peace connecting the economic hub of Asia to Africa (MFA, 2019). Natural gas use continues to dominate Japan's energy mix despite efforts to improve environmental protection and attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also, increasing production and investment typically leads to a better quality of life and more disposable income for the populace, which promotes economic growth. To this end, the study investigates the relationship between economic growth, trade openness, and natural gas consumption, as well as gross fixed capital formation and carbon dioxide emissions to overcome omitted variable problems to explore the natural gas-economic growth hypothesis in Japan over the period 1980–2020. Empirical results reveal a long-run relationship among the variables under consideration. By applying the Toda and Yamamoto approach to Granger causality testing, a two-sided causality running from CO2 and economic growth was revealed, while a one-sided causality from economic growth to natural gas consumption. This outcome suggests that the natural gas-economic growth hypothesis is not valid for Japan. According to these outcomes, policymakers in the energy sector should consciously diversify their energy portfolio in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Japan. Also, it is recommended that there should be a provision of access to skilled labor to increase productivity and export finished products to boost a nation's economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of a changing climate and increasing efforts to use renewable energy sources and waste materials and to green the environment, new sources and technologies for energy recovery from waste are being sought. This study evaluates the possibilities of energy generation potential from waste products of fruit species used in the food processing industry. The results indicate good potential for energy use of materials from fruit processing due to low input moisture content of around 15 wt. %, an average energy lower heating value (LHV) of 16.5 MJ·kg−1, an average low ash content of 4.9% and meeting most of the emission limits of similar biofuels. Elemental analysis and combustion residue studies indicate safe operation within existing standards. The results of our analyses and experience from similar studies allow us to recommend most of the studied waste materials for energy generation use directly in processing plants at the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of environmentally friendly, cheap and safe energy for citizens by taking into account the mix of national energy use by considering the country's financial ability to provide subsidies is a policy that must be carried out by the Government. In this case, the Government of Indonesia itself has taken the initiative to save subsidies through the conversion of kerosene to the use of LPG which is safer for the community. However, the high LPG subsidy because it still relies on imports for its fulfillment also ultimately raises other problems. Starting in 2009, the Government continued to take initiatives to overcome this by continuing existing policies by building Household Gas Networks to optimize the potential of natural gas that is widely available in Indonesia and to reduce dependence on the use of LPG, especially in the household consumer sector and small customers. This policy is even included in one of the National Strategic Projects through Presidential Decree No. 18 of 2020 where this is also contained in the Medium-Term Development Plan (RJPMN) which targets the construction of 4.7 million household connections by the end of 2024, but in fact until 2022 only around 871,000 connections have been realized. This study conducts an analysis of policy evaluation of Jargas Development through the CIPP (Context, Input, Process &; Product) approach to get a comprehensive picture of the policy process that occurs. From the results of the study, it was found that there are still things that need to be improved to ensure that this policy can better achieve the expected targets, both in terms of planning to policy implementation that involves many parties in it and also recommendations for implementation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present communication is focused predominantly on important R&D solutions relevant to renewable energy technologies covering the following: (i) Innovative heat transfer fluid and thermal storage technology based on a molten salt mixture developed by ENEA for large-scale heat storage. The system uses a parabolic trough collector, compared with diathermic oil, which allows higher operating temperature, resulting in significant benefits to the plant's operation, safety and the environment. (ii) The world's first solar disk powered by air micro turbine developed by ENEA. (iii) An innovative steam-explosion prototype plant installed at ENEA for the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass and the fractionation of bio components to generate ethanol from lignocellulosic material using hemicellulose and lignin. (iv) The production of hydrogen-enriched biogas using steam as the gasification agent, which helps in obtaining nearly nitrogen-free product gas and with a high calorific value of around 12 MJ/Nm3 dry gas and a high percentage of hydrogen (up to 55%) while using steam as the gasifying agent in the presence of a catalyst. (v) A rotary kiln plant, with the main purpose being to develop and optimize a thermo-chemical process to convert used rubber tyres so as to recover material and energy, as well as other solid products, with high value-added "Activated carbon" and synthesis gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comprehensive study of the energy strategies of both countries, aimed at achieving their goals by 2050. A literature review presents global trends in energy policy, the current situation in Poland and Germany, and the importance of sustainable energy. For Poland and Germany, the current situation, goals, and strategies for 2050 are described, and the results of surveys carried out using a survey questionnaire are presented. A comparative analysis included a comparison of the goals and strategies of both countries and the results of surveys, presented in tabular form. This analysis drew conclusions regarding the differences and similarities in the approach of both countries to energy policy. The "Challenges and Prospects" section identifies potential challenges and presents opportunities and recommendations for the future. In conclusion, the article provides a thorough analysis, based on the methodology of a literature review, survey questionnaire, and tabular analysis, and contains important conclusions and implications for energy policy in Poland and Germany. The article also addresses the limitations of the study that may affect the interpretation of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the rising global temperature, China, the largest annual carbon emitter, is constantly fulfilling its obligations and acting to inject Chinese impetus into global climate action. Under this background, this paper uses an IV-TSLS regression model to empirically explore the impact of China's Environment Goods Export (CEGE) on the Carbon Emission Intensity of Importing Countries (CEIIC), including a sample of 187 countries, covering the period from 2012 to 2020. We find that the CEGE can reduce the CEIIC by changing the energy mix of importing countries. All five categories of environment goods classified by their protection functions can significantly reduce the CEIIC. Among them, the goods used for the disposal and recycling of waste and pollutants, emission monitoring, and renewable energy projects have the most powerful inhibition effect. The inhibition effect of the CEGE on the Carbon Emission Intensity (CEI) in South America is the greatest, followed by Africa, Oceania, and Asia, while this effect is insignificant in European and North American countries. The CEGE has a stronger inhibition effect on the CEI of non-APEC countries than APEC countries. The CEGE has a far greater inhibition effect on the CEI of six economic corridor countries than the other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial sector is one of the main energy consumers in the developed world, accounting in the case of Europe for over 20% of the total consumed energy. Especially in countries of high solar potential, like the case of southern Europe, industrial roofs offer an alternative for the production of green energy, with the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology, considered to be one of the most mature applications at this time point. This work examines the capacity of industrial roofs to meet part of the energy needs of the industrial sector with PV installations. Specifically, in the context of this work, GIS techniques were utilized to quantify the total solar potential of industrial roofs, as well as their capacity for energy production. Technical, environmental, and economic indicators related to the processing of the findings of the work, as well as the definition of a policy framework, are extracted and discussed. The object of the work was the energy system of a southern island state of the European Union, the Republic of Cyprus, where all the conditions for a favorable framework for the promotion of industrial solar roofs are met. The study reveals that photovoltaic (PV) installations on Cyprus’s industrial roofs have the potential to generate 443.2 GWh annually, meeting 19% of the industrial sector’s energy needs, and reducing CO2 emissions by over 250 k tons per year, highlighting a substantial opportunity for decarbonization and economic investment in renewable energy. This study aspires to provide food for thought, for future work that will be implemented in this context, enabling the establishment of industrial roofs as a potential contributor to policies for adapting to the energy requirements of the era. The novelty of this research lies in its utilization of GIS techniques to quantify the solar potential and energy production capacity of industrial roofs, specifically in the context of the Republic of Cyprus, thereby contributing to the development of a policy framework for leveraging industrial solar roofs in energy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective analysis of the Mexican power system has been carried out, and the possibilities for complying with the National Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments adopted in the Paris Agreement in the National Climate Change Strategy of the General Law for Climate Change are presented. A hybrid approach was used, inspired by Foresight Frameworks on one side, and using an accounting and scenario-based modeling platform called Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) with economic optimization on the other, to analyze four possible scenarios to 2050: Trend, also known as Business As Usual (BAU), which only looks at the growth rate of the gross domestic product (GDP) and population, along with the country's proven potential for renewable resources under the policy framework before 2015; Market, which considers the trend of installation of renewable technologies and the policies of the past administration; Sovereignty, which does the same as the previous scenario but for the policies of the current Mexican government; and Sustainable, which together with GDP and population growth takes into account the possible potential of national renewable resources and characteristics that the country should have to foster this. The research question was: Is there a long-term energy policy for the Mexican power sector to accomplish its NDCs? The study concluded that the best scenario is Sustainable, showing that the possible potential of the country's renewable resources has the capacity to meet the Mexican commitments adopted in the Paris Agreement if, on one side, techno-economic renewable technologies and electricity storage systems are used, and on the other, if the country's strategic areas evolve into a more holistically sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists is the property of Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The energy mix determines the external costs of transport and the benefits from investments in the drive systems perceived as more environmentally friendly, such as electric vehicles.

Increasing energy consumption and ensuring the supply of energy resources in sufficient quantities and changes in the energy mix of individual countries and regions are a pressing issue today. Besides their economic dimension, energy and energy policy also carry geopolitical and security importance. The ecological and social aspect is increasingly important; issues related to the availability of resources, stability of supply, efficiency and fuel prices are becoming more common and pressing. This study has expanded on the subject of energy dependence to include the concept of interdependence. It has also delved into international trade, incorporating this plane to provide a broad international dimension and emphasise the need to strengthen the energy security of individual states. The aim of this article is to show the gravity of the EU’s unilateral Russian-dominated import focus and the possibility of reshaping the pattern of energy imports into the EU. The analysis of energy trade has drawn on an interpretation of the outputs of available data, with the caveat that the war in Ukraine has limited momentum in this area. The results of the subject explored here are presented in the form of a discourse on opportunities to redirect trade and strengthen the EU’s energy security. The European Union, as a primary-energy import region, must revisit the territorial structure of its primary-energy imports, diversify its suppliers, change the energy mix and interconnect energy infrastructure by deploying new technologies.

In the current context, the focus on optimizing energy distribution is intensified by high-impact events such as resource scarcity, import dependence, war, inflation, or environmental threats. As a consequence, international agencies have built extensive policies and targets that will reflect directly into the general energy distribution. One of the most crucial would be the 65% share of electricity that is bound to be generated from renewables until 2030. To study the feasibility of that goal, we will analyze the evolution of the energy mix worldwide in the last two decades, identifying the shift towards alternative energy sources, while also pinpointing the agents of change in terms of the low-carbon transition. The methodology will consist of a bootstrap clustering algorithm that has been computed for 3 moments: 2000, 2010, and 2020, generating clear differences in terms of energy distribution. In the second part of the paper, we have employed an ARIMA model that aims to predict the share of renewable energy by 2030, with the worrying conclusion that if the current rhythm continues, the goal will not be met and the climate could face severe consequences. Therefore, the paper significantly contributes to the methodological void in terms of bootstrap clustering applicability, while also illustrating a complete energy picture from a geographical and time perspective.

The aim of this study is to quantitatively describe the anticipated change in the energy mix of the Sultanate of Oman (Oman) as the country moves forward in its national plan for green hydrogen, in order to become a global producer and exporter. This aim is achieved by curating recent data about energy projects in Oman that are either operating or planned (in a construction or pre-construction stage). Then, these data are processed further to extract useful insights about how the energy mix would change if the planned projects are realized and added to the operating ones. This reveals the serious commitment of the country to accomplish its national plan for green hydrogen (GH), where the green hydrogen production ambition for 2030 is about 1.125 million tons per annum (Mtpa), using a renewable energy capacity of approximately 18 GW. This ambition increases to about 3.5 Mtpa with approximately 70 GW of renewables in 2040, and increases further to about 8 Mtpa with approximately 180 GW of renewables in 2050. As a portrait of Oman’s energy mix with the assumption of successfully completing all planned energy projects, we found that the country is expected to have a total capacity of 83.1271 GW, with the share of renewables (solar and wind) reaching 83.133% (as compared to 15.0711 GW with an 8.907% renewables share for operating projects). Nearly all (precisely 99.571%) of the 68.0560 GW planned national energy capacity additions are based on solar or wind energy, while the traditional oil–gas energy is gradually phased out. Green hydrogen production dominates this surge in renewables penetration within the Omani energy mix, with 84.659% of the planned 34.3140 GW solar capacity additions linked with green hydrogen production, for operating water electrolyzers. Similarly, 98.804% of the planned 33.4500 GW wind capacity additions are linked with green hydrogen production.

In the field of economic analysis, the study of the EU ETS policy has primarily focused on the impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth, as well as the role of legal and fiscal instruments in the development of clean energy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EU ETS policy in altering the energy mix of selected European countries, providing both cognitive and applicational value. The evaluation of the effectiveness of this policy focused on the structure of the energy mix and the relationship between rising CO2 emission allowance prices and the decreasing share of coal in the energy mix. The goal was achieved through statistical analysis of secondary sources, primarily sourced from Bloomberg (2016–2024). The research findings indicated that changes in the structure of energy sources varied across the studied European countries, due to the adopted energy source utilization strategy, resource availability, and geopolitical situations. Additionally, different correlation values were noted between rising CO2 emission allowance prices and the expected reduction in fossil fuel use. Therefore, the EU ETS policy does not fulfill its assigned role—its implementation contributes to disparities in the economic situations of European economies and creates conditions for unequal competition.

Renewable energy has emerged as a promising solution to address the challenges of climate change, energy security, and socio-economic development. South Africa, with its abundant renewable energy resources, has made significant strides in the utilization of renewable energy over the past decade. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the progress of renewable energy advancement in South Africa, examining the policies, initiatives, and achievements in various renewable energy sectors. This study explores the country’s transition from a heavily coal-dependent energy system to a diversified and sustainable energy mix. It analyses the growth of renewable energy technologies, such as wind power and solar photovoltaic (PV), highlighting the key milestones, challenges, and opportunities. Furthermore, this paper discusses the role of government support, regulatory frameworks, and private sector investments in driving renewable energy deployment in South Africa. Finally, it identifies the prospects and potential areas for further advancement in the renewable energy sector. This review aims to contribute to the understanding of South Africa’s renewable energy journey and provides valuable insights for policy-makers, researchers, and stakeholders involved in the sustainable energy transition.

The study considers the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine, - which has been going on for more than a year, - on the energy economy of the European Union, particularly such countries as Austria and Hungary. The two hypotheses are that the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war undermines the decarbonisation objectives of the European integration in the short and medium term and reduces the EU's global competitiveness in the face of rising energy prices vis-à-vis its global competitors, such as the United States and China. Even Germany, which intended to close down its nuclear power plants completely by the end of 2022, has been forced to prolong the operation of nuclear power plants in order to maintain its energy security. In view of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the supply of fossil fuels is severely hampered by the very limited availability of supply countries and routes, and the very costly additional infrastructure network that will have to be built in the future to strengthen the security of supply. The most significant difference between the Hungarian and Austrian energy strategies is the perception of nuclear energy. While Austria is totally opposed to the operation and expansion of nuclear power plants at international level, Hungary is strongly in favour of maintaining and developing its nuclear power plants in the interest of security of energy supply. In the case of Austria, it is essential to stress that, thanks to its natural resources, two-thirds of its electricity generation comes from carbon-neutral renewable energy sources. The share of renewable energy sources in Austria's energy mix is around 20% higher than the 13% share in Hungary. In the Hungarian energy mix, nuclear energy accounts for almost all of the 20% share “Hungary loses” in the Austrian renewables comparison. The two countries have completely different views on the EU's taxonomic regulation regarding the fact that nuclear energy is also considered sustainable energy. Fossil energy sources are almost equally represented in the energy mix of the two countries.